Product Description

Matthew Modine delivers one of his finest performances in this gripping courtroom thriller based on the best-selling novel by Robert Whitlow.

Modine stars as "Mac" McClain, an emotionally crippled attourney who's lost his faith in God and himself. That's when Mac reluctantly decides to take on one last case: a young man (Randy Wayne, To Save A Life), facing the death penalty for first-degree murder. But nothing can prepare Mac for the startling twists and turns of the ensuing trail, as the determined lawyer fights for justice and seeks a path to his own redemption.

Most helpful customer reviews

Where does propaganda and great film cross?If this film was about Islam, it would have been inevery paper but not the film section.As I said to my religious friend, "The problem withthe "Religious Right" is the second word.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)

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43 reviews

31 of 31 people found the following review helpful

Not for Action JunkiesNov. 20 2010

By
Paul Medus
- Published on Amazon.com

This is somewhat like a Life Time movie, but better. It's about a man who is a lawyer asked to take on a case by an old Judge who wants to make sure the defendant is defended without a hitch. The state's attorney is pretty ruthless in a bland sort of way when prosecuting the case. It's a mystery where inner turmoil is explored, sometimes with great anguish. If you are looking for a thrill a minute, this ain't it. This is a slow building mystery suspense that makes the viewer actually think about what is going on. Particularly great for a rainy/snowy Saturday/Sunday afternoon.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful

A Very Fine Courtroom DramaNov. 23 2010

By
Grady Harp
- Published on Amazon.com

Format: DVD

THE TRIAL, adapted from Robert Whitlow's novel of the same name by director Gary Wheeler and Mark Freiburger, is in many ways a reminder of what movies used to be - movies that centered on trials of innocent victims or trials that, like TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, surfaced other issues to ponder. This film is a quiet little intimate tale about the justice system in all its elegance and flaws, but it is more: there are human stories that interweave giving the film an aura of caring that is so rare in today's CGI-oriented Hollywood.

The film is set in the beauty of Georgia countryside, complete with mists and fields and rivers where we first see attorney Mac MacClain (Matthew Modine), pensive after the accidental death of his wife and two children nine years ago. His practice has fallen, his mental sate has fallen below the flatline state, and he is contemplating suicide when a telephone call from the wise old town judge (Rance Howard) summons him to take on a case of the murder of one Angela Hightower, the young and beautiful daughter of the wealthiest man in the little town, the corrupt Hightower family being part of Mac's sad past encounters. The accused is Angela's boyfriend Pete Thomason (an impressive Randy Wayne) who is now in jail claiming he had total amnesia for the event. Mac feels a sense of responsibility to the boy and agrees to take on the case, hiring back his assistant Mindy (Nikki Deloach) and his investigator Ray (Robert Forster). As they uncover facts Mac seeks advice from psychologist Dr. Anna Wilkes (Clare Carey) who in addition to testing Pete finds time to share her Grieving Group Sessions with Mac.

The evidence is gathered and the trial begins after a plea bargain is denied by Pete. The Hightower lawyer is the brilliant, eloquent but ruthless Joe Whetstone (a fine performance by Bob Gunton) and the battle of wits and rights is on. The courtroom drama is well written and the turn of events from the trial to the followup findings and second trial are well molded. If the film ends in a too saccharine mode, the quality of acting in the film before that should make the audience tolerate the preachiness. There are some fine cameos -Larry Bagby, Burgess Jenkins, Brett Rice among them - and there is much to learn about contemporary youth habits and small town tenor. This is not a great film, but it is a refreshing memory of the small and intimate films of yesteryear. Grady Harp, November 10

20 of 23 people found the following review helpful

Great filmOct. 20 2010

By
filmfan13
- Published on Amazon.com

Format: DVD

I saw this film at the theater in Davidson, NC. It really is a great film.

Matthew Modine does a wonderful job as always but it is the supporting cast that sets this movie a part. Bob Gunton does a great job as the prosecutor; Robert Forster (love him in Jackie Brown!!!!) is fantastic as the PI and a great string of witnesses steal the show (truck driver is the best of the best).

The film looks beautiful too. Nice mystery and wonderful to see a clean movie with a great message.

"Grief is like a river...."

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

An open mind, please.Dec 25 2010

By
Michael Swanson
- Published on Amazon.com

A lot of reviews are giving this movie a bad rap. I don't know what they were watching, but it doesn't sound like the same movie my wife and I watched. It wasn't Oscar material or movie of the year, but it wasn't meant to be. It was made to make you think, and for us it worked just fine.

Have you ever been "set up" and framed? Have you ever taken the rap for someone else? Felt like your life was hanging on the edge, and you didn't know why? The defendant in this movie did. You always had the feeling like he was innocent from the begining, but you had your doubts, and when the climax came into play you knew why.

Come into this movie with an open mind. Don't let other peoples negativity cloud your own judgement. Think about how you would feel if people were making accusations about you, and then watch the film with an open mind. Hopefully you will be as pleasantly surprised as both of us were.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

View this movie for yourself.. It is an awesome movie!July 16 2011

By
Flower
- Published on Amazon.com

Format: DVD

This movie was great from the beginning all the way to the end for my family and I. We enjoyed every character and every twist and turn. I thought that every character played their roles well. I did not find the movie a bore as some of the reviews have stated.

What I did find interesting is that, when a movie is God centered or faith centered it is a bore, bad acting, waste of time etc.. It is very strange how when a faith based movie is made, no one wants to support the movie or give the movie great reviews.

I said this to say that it is a shame that this movie did not receive the exposure it should have. This was a great movie as my family and I just finished watching the movie and I could not wait to write a review about the movie in support of this movie and hopefully many more faith based movies to come.

If you are thinking of viewing this movie, you will not be disappointed. We viewed this movie with clear minds. We left the movie touched and filled with the message that this movie sends.. If you want a clean, faith based, mystery then this movie is for you. It is based on a book by a great author who writes great books..

The movie was professional quality, touching, clean, great family entertainment and an ending that will knock you off of your feet and leaving you wondering who can you trust.

View this movie for yourself and then make your own judgement as to if it is a good movie are not. But before you state your response, ask yourself what do you value, did this movie feed your spirit man? Did you get the message of this movie.

Christians can have clean fun and make decent movies without all of the guns, violence, and drugs etc. Remember what you put in your gates, eye, ears, etc is what will come out. Give your soul some food for thought with this clean christian movie.